roll

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈrōl 

plural rolls

1

a(1)

: a written document that may be rolled up : scroll

specifically : a document containing an official or formal record

the rolls of parliament

(2)

: a manuscript book

b

: a list of names or related items : catalog

c

: an official list

the voter rolls

: such as

(1)

: muster roll

(2)

: a list of members of a school or class or of members of a legislative body

2

: something that is rolled up into a cylinder or ball or rounded as if rolled

rolls of fat

: such as

a

: a quantity (as of fabric or paper) rolled up to form a single package

b

: a hairstyle in which some or all of the hair is rolled or curled up or under

c

: any of various food preparations rolled up for cooking or serving

cabbage rolls

a sushi roll

especially : a small piece of baked yeast dough

d

: a cylindrical twist of tobacco

e

: a roll of paper on which music for a player piano is recorded in perforations which actuate the keys

f

: a flexible case (as of leather) in which articles may be rolled and fastened by straps or clasps

jewelry roll

g(1)

: paper money folded or rolled into a wad

(2)

slang : bankroll

3

: something that performs a rolling action or movement : roller

4

: a wheel for making decorative lines on book covers

also : a design impressed by such a tool

roll

2 of 3

verb

rolled; rolling; rolls

transitive verb

1

a

: to impel forward by causing to turn over and over on a surface

b

: to cause to revolve by turning over and over on or as if on an axis

c

: to cause to move in a circular manner

they rolled their eyes at the absurdity

d

: to form into a mass by turning over and over

e

: to impel forward with an easy continuous motion

f

: to cause to move in a given direction by or as if by turning a crank

rolled down the window

2

a

: to put a wrapping around : enfold, envelop

b

: to wrap round on itself : shape into a ball or roll

rolled up the newspaper

also : to produce by such shaping

rolled his own cigarettes

3

: to press, spread, or level with a roller : make smooth, even, or compact

hulled and rolled oats

roll paint

—often used with out

rolled out the dough

4

a

: to move on rollers or wheels

rolled the patient into the operating room

b

: to cause to begin operating or moving

roll the cameras

5

a

: to sound with a full reverberating tone

rolled out the words

b

: to make a continuous beating sound upon : sound a roll upon

rolled their drums

c

: to utter with a trill

rolled his r's

d

: to play (a chord) in arpeggio style

6

: to combine so as to comprise one entity

—usually used in the phrase rolled into one

a shopping center, amusement park, and nightclub all rolled into one

7

: to rob (a drunk, sleeping, or unconscious person) usually by going through the pockets

broadly : rob

8

: bowl sense 1

intransitive verb

1

a

: to move along a surface by rotation without sliding

b(1)

: to turn over and over

the children rolled in the grass

(2)

: to luxuriate in an abundant supply : wallow

fairly rolling in money

2

a

: to move onward or around as if by completing a revolution : elapse, pass

the months roll on

b

: to shift the gaze continually

eyes rolling in terror

c

: to revolve on an axis

3

: to move about : roam, wander

4

a

: to go forward in an easy, gentle, or undulating manner

the waves rolled in

b

: to flow in a continuous stream : pour

money was rolling in

c

: to flow as part of a stream of words or sounds

the names roll off your tongue

d

: to have an undulating contour

rolling prairie

e

: to lie extended : stretch

5

a

: to travel in a vehicle

rolling north on the highway

b

: to become carried on a stream

c

: to move on wheels

6

a

: to make a deep reverberating sound

the thunder rolls

b

: trill

7

a

: to swing from side to side

the ship heaved and rolled

b

: to walk with a swinging gait : sway

8

a

: to take the form of a cylinder or ball

b

: to respond to rolling in a specified way

9

a

: to get underway : begin to move or operate

b

: to move forward : develop and maintain impetus

the project finally got rolling

especially : to proceed or progress with notable ease or success

the team was rolling

10

: to execute a somersault

11

of a football quarterback : to run toward one flank usually parallel to the line of scrimmage especially before throwing a pass

—often used with out

roll

3 of 3

noun (2)

1

a

: a sound produced by rapid strokes on a drum

b

: a sonorous and often rhythmical flow of speech

c

: a heavy reverberatory sound

the roll of cannon

2

: a rolling movement or an action or process involving such movement

a roll of the dice

an airplane's takeoff roll

: such as

a

: a swaying movement of the body

b

: a side-to-side movement (as of a ship or train)

c(1)

: a flight maneuver in which a complete revolution about the longitudinal axis of an airplane is made with the horizontal direction of flight being approximately maintained

(2)

: the motion of an aircraft or spacecraft about its longitudinal axis

d

: a somersault executed in contact with the ground

Phrases

roll the bones

: to shoot craps

roll the dice

: to assume a risk by taking action

rolled the dice when they bought those stocks

roll with the punches

1

: to move so as to lessen the impact of blows

2

: to adjust to things as they happen

on a roll

: in the midst of a series of successes : on a hot streak

—sometimes used with a modifier

has been on a brilliant roll

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• canon
• catalog
• catalogue
• checklist
• list
• listing
• menu
• register
• registry
• roll call
• roster
• schedule
• table

Verb

• agglomerate
• ball
• round
• wad

Noun (2)

• gyration
• pirouette
• reel
• revolution
• rotation
• spin
• twirl
• wheel
• whirl

Examples of roll in a Sentence

Noun (1)

called the roll of people supposed to be in the class

Verb

The children rolled down the hill.

The ball rolled slowly to a stop.

Roll the chicken wings in the batter.

The paramedics rolled him onto the gurney.

The car rolled slowly to a stop.

A police car rolled up next to us.

The children rolled the toy car to each other.

The patient was rolled into the emergency room.

The fog soon rolled away.

Noun (2)

the squirrel did a quick roll and vanished up a tree

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Brighten your day by making a luminary from a paper cup or toilet paper roll. —Joe Rassel, Orlando Sentinel, 18 Dec. 2024

While the scale is initially small in Hartford, the hope is that those firms will expand their worker rolls and expertise in Hartford and elsewhere in the state. —Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 18 Dec. 2024

Verb

Montana threw for 331 yards and three touchdowns, and Roger Craig (who belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame IMHO) scored two touchdowns, as the 49ers rolled, 38-16, in Super Bowl 19. —Jim Reineking, USA TODAY, 20 Dec. 2024

For more seasoned skiers, Round Valley’s 15 miles of rolling hills and scenic vistas offer peace and solitude. —AFAR Media, 19 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English rolle, from Anglo-French roule, rolle, from Medieval Latin rolla, alteration of rotula, from Latin, diminutive of rota wheel; akin to Old High German rad wheel, Welsh rhod, Sanskrit ratha wagon

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French rouler, roller, from roele wheel, rowel & roule roll

First Known Use

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Noun (2)

1688, in the meaning defined at sense 1c

Phrases Containing roll

• anti-roll
• anti-roll bar
• a roll in the hay
• a roll of the dice
• barrel roll
• body roll
• B-roll
• California roll
• coffee roll
• Dutch roll
• egg roll
• eye roll
• heads are going to roll
• heads will roll
• honor roll
• jelly roll
• kaiser roll
• kitchen roll
• leaf roll
• let's roll
• muster roll
• on a roll
• pick-and-roll
• put/roll/throw out the welcome mat
• ready to roll
• rock and roll
• roll about
• roll around
• roll back
• roll bar
• roll cage
• roll call
• roll down
• roll film
• roll in
• roll-neck
• roll-off
• roll of honour
• roll on
• roll one's r's
• roll out
• roll out of bed
• roll out the red carpet
• roll over
• roll-over arm
• roll the bones
• roll the dice
• roll/trip off the tongue
• roll up
• roll up one's sleeves
• roll with the punches
• snap roll
• spring roll
• sushi roll
• Swiss roll
• toilet roll

Kids Definition

roll

1 of 3 noun

ˈrōl 

1

a

: a written document that may be rolled up : scroll

b

: an official list of names

the voter rolls

2

a

: something or a quantity of something that is rolled up or rounded as if rolled

rolls of fat

b

: a small piece of baked bread dough

c

: paper money folded or rolled

roll

2 of 3 verb

1

: to move or cause to move by turning over and over on a surface without sliding

2

a

: to put a wrapping around

b

: to form into a ball or roll

3

: to make smooth, even, or firm with or as if with a roller

4

a

: to move on rollers or wheels

b

: to begin or cause to begin operating or moving

roll the cameras

let's get rolling

5

: to sound with a full echoing tone or with a continuous beating sound

roll a drum

thunder rolled

6

: to have an abundant supply

rolling in money

7

a

: to move onward or around as if on a wheel or scroll

the days roll by

lines rolling off the screen of a computer

b

: to rotate on an axis

8

: to flow in a continuous stream

money was rolling in

9

: to move with a side-to-side sway : rock

roll

3 of 3 noun

1

a

: a sound produced by rapid strokes on a drum

b

: a heavy echoing sound

the roll of thunder

2

: a rolling movement or an action involving such movement

Legal Definition

roll

noun

1

: a document containing an official record

2

: an official list

the public relief rolls

: as

a

: a list of members of a legislative body

the clerk called the roll and recorded the votes

b

: a list of practitioners in a court or the courts of a state

—usually used in pl.

c

: a record kept by an authorized official of persons or property or both that are subject to taxation